Finally got to visit on a day they were actually open! Me and a couple friends had some delicious…read morecocktails, and the bartender was super helpful and friendly. Definitely you do over.

We went out with Park Ridge friends last weekend and they took us to this charming bar. I read a…read morefew reviews that said that Pines Room has a small town vibe. I disagree--I am a Chicago boy and it has a big city hidden gem quality about it. In fact, they promote themselves as a speakeasy. Of course you can get any cocktail you want, but my husband and I both opted for a special strawberry cocktail made with Hendrick's gin. It was refreshing, not too sweet, and garnished with a dehydrated lemon slice. Perfect! Our friends both ordered old fashioned cocktails that looked equally as good. It was a Saturday night and this tiny bar was jam-packed. We had to stand, but it was okay because we had only stopped in for one drink before heading to another restaurant for dinner. The bartenders were friendly and efficient. Prices are not inexpensive, but average to what you'd find in a downtown Chicago restaurant. If you''re looking for a cool place to hang in Park Ridge with a craft cocktail and have a small bite (they have a limited food menu, too), Pines Room is the place.

I received a warm welcome when I entered the door. The front area of the restaurant was full so we…read morewere led to the back, enclosed patio. There was a funky smell at first (the wood, the alley?) but we eventually just got used to it. I would suggest something to battle the smell. The waitress mentioned the specials for the night and when she said Short Rib, I was sold. It was delicious. Only sad thing is that the average person will probably never take leftovers home. The portion, as pricey as it is, is just right for one person. The margarita I had was good and the Tres Leches dessert was a perfect ending.

One of my favorite spots to eat in Skokie! Staff is so friendly, and the food is absolutely…read morephenomenal! I'm a huge fan of the camerones and the flautas, so delicious!

Ward Eight was a place we frequently visited when we lived nearby many years ago. We were in the…read morearea recently and decided to stop by...we discovered this gem from our past has only gotten better! High quality and innovative cocktails, reasonable prices, and a chic/classy ambiance make Ward Eight must-visit! I tried two cocktails when I was at Ward 8: Remember the Main and Vieux Carre. Both were decadent, delicious, and boozy. Triple threats! I loved them both, but the "Remember the Main" was different from drinks I've had before, so that was my favorite. My husband had a local beer. They have beer, wine, and NA options for folks who aren't into cocktails. They also have food which looks scrumptious, ranging from high-end appetizers to full meals. We did not come prepared to eat, so we'll have to come back again to try food in the future! The staff were welcoming and professional. The space was clean and Gatsby-style chic. There is plenty of seating and an outdoor space for when it is warmer. It is a fancier places, so prices are higher. But you pay for the higher quality ingredients and innovative recipes. If you enjoy cocktails and cozy cocktail bars, Ward Eight is definitely the spot for you!

Cocktail was neither worst nor the best rendition of a Vieux carre that I've had. I've said it…read moreseveral times that many things that originate in New Orleans are hard to replicate outside New f the big easy. I got the feeling that the staff were putting some effort into their craft. The place was crowded & there was even a live band performing. The bar had some above average bottles such as Hibiki & Bookers. I was pressed for time but there were at least three more menu items I would've tried.

this place is very family, friendly, has video games for pretty much all ages, a really nice area…read morereserved for private bookings, and also caters to the adults with two bars. There's Apple space to move around and very bright and lightly. The food choices are pizza, chicken tenders, cheeseburger, sliders, fries, cookies, and drinks. The service is bar none where they're so helpful and inviting.

Kind of a hidden arcade. It's easy to pass by. There's plenty of parking in the side, gravel lot…read more Be careful, they have a sign that says it can get muddy on a rainy day. We never interacted with staff. Most of them were behind the small bar. I'm not sure what they serve, but they didn't look too experienced with cocktails. There were no kids when we went. The place was clean, and I like how you can redeem prizes yourself via the machines.

OsKar is a whiskey-focus cocktail bar in Evanston, and they have seasonally rotating menus on class…read moreand modern twists on drinks. We came here to check out a popup from Chef Ben Janasiak, the Hatchet Burger - the menu offers the Smashburger, the Chimkin Patty, the Chicken Caesar Wrap, and Tater Tots. We ordered the following: +the Smashburger came with 2 patties, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, pickles, and burger sauce +the Chimkin Patty was prepared with a seasonal vegetable fritter, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and remoulade +and, the Tater Tots, which came with a side of spicy ranch Make sure you go between 4:30 PM and 9 PM to get your burger fix! Staff were friendly, and the place was cute - loved the wooden bar area. Metered street parking can be found in the area. +Hatch Burger pop-up +friendly staff +metered street parking in the area

As a former restaurant/craft cocktail owner in Lincoln Park, I'm shocked Oskar's only has 2 reviews…read moreas it's got a lot going for it. The cocktail menu caters to many tastes, they make their own bitters, shrubs and syrups, they have a diverse collection of small batch producers and clearly a staff who know what they're doing! As a mixologist who now only plies his trade at home, I was extremely impressed!! Not that the lack of reviews seem to be hurting their business - the 3 attempts I made to visit, only one was successful (they were too busy the other times). I stumbled upon Oskars by chance - but man, am I ecstatic that I did!!! This is a gem that would easily do well in Chicago's trendiest hoods. Its interior is extremely cozy and inviting/welcoming - it reminded me of a cocktail establishment in London's brick lane neighborhood. I'm looking forward to coming back with friends as this is a cocktail bar that will impress Chicagoans and out of towners alike - and more importantly, I don't have to venture south to have a great cocktail anymore!!

Came here for dinner and the vibes were honestly sooo cute. The whole place has that coastal,…read morebeachy aesthetic and it feels super fun for a girls night, date night, or just somewhere pretty to sit and yap over food. We ordered the shrimp tacos, truffle parmesan fries, and the vodka pasta. The shrimp tacos were definitely the star for me -- super flavorful, fresh, and had a nice little kick without being too much. The truffle fries were also really good and easy to share, especially with the extra aioli on the side. The vodka pasta was creamy, comforting, and just one of those solid dishes if you want something filling and reliable. Everything came out looking really nice, portions were decent, and the whole meal felt like a cute little dinner moment. The ambiance definitely adds to the experience here too -- it's one of those places people come to for the vibe, but the food still holds up. Overall, I'd come back especially for the tacos and fries. Cute trendy spot for dinner if you want good food and a fun atmosphere.

We went to Hampton Social for the first time after hearing good reviews from our close family and…read morefriends. We went during their happy hour and got sat. We were told that happy hour was only served at the bar. They were nice and were able to still give us happy hour without moving. We got: Guacamole: 4/5 loved the corn inside! Oysters: 4/5 for happy hour the price was good! 1.5 each but they were small. I loved the tiny Tabasco White wine: 4/5 I'm not sure which it was but it was from the happy hour and it was yum! I loved the ambiance and its cuteness. I think the only draw back was the cost even though we went for happy hour. Comparing with other options in the neighborhood I'm not sure if I'd go back unless I went for a very specific item.

In honor of Women's History Month I would like to update my review of Nobody's Darling to state…read morethat the lovely owners of this fine establishment are still doing their thing. Nobody's Darling is not just to have a chat and cocktail, they offer quite a few events for folks to attend. Below are a few examples of the swinging times you can have there. In 2026 I am so happy that they are still in business and thriving. The vibe is still cool, the menu for the cocktails is still exciting and the crowd is eclectic. Wine Down Wednesday Unwind midweek with Happy Hour 5-7pm $7 glasses of wine $20 bottles Thursday: Pitch Your Peeps Help your friend find love (or vibes). Pitch them to the room - all relationship styles welcome. Feel Good Fridayz w/ DJ All The Way Kay Start the weekend right! Happy Hour 5-7pm DJ Kay live 8-11pm Sunday Karaoke All Day Happy Hour starting at 2pm Karaoke 5pm-8pm Sip.Sing. Repeat. Empanadas by De Luna Empanada 7pm-10pm DJ Gloria on the decks Cocktails flowing all night Friday, March 20 DJ Set 8-11PM

Great drinks and no douchy "bro" energy to be found anywhere. I love this bar. The staff is so…read morefriendly and the vibe of the entire experience was very appealing. It's thought of as a gay bar and clearly that's a lot of the clientele, but all are welcome. Cocktails are delicious and run about $15 each. Pretty standard pricing. They have a good selection of n/a drinks and a menu for lower alcohol cocktails as well. Great neighborhood bar

My sister and I occasionally like to 'shmorgezborg' and we did just that at Bar Siena early today…read morefor lunch. And it's located in Old Orchard so perfect if you want to shop right after Decorated with Christmas lights draping from the ceiling Bar Siena offers a shirk dining experience. And I just have to mention that the service is outstanding and attentive. We decided to go with a plethora of dishes starting with their fried calamari to share. Perfectly tender with a light batter and served with both a house marinara and lemon aioli. Personally I LOVED the lemon aioli but the marinara not so much. I was just expecting more of a robust flavor from it. I chose my main from their 2 course lunch which is a pretty damn good deal. I chose the Baby Gem Salad and their Siena Smashburger and I knew I made a wise decision. The Gem Salad was actually the perfect lunch size and the burger...whoa. I know my burgers and this one was a good smash burger. It wasn't 'glammed' up like some burgers which I appreciated. Just the right amount of sauce and simple condiments. Next menu item...the Prosciutto and Fig Pizza. Ok today I learned that Bar Siena has major Neapolitan pizza game. The marriage of flavors drive me crazy. The difference maker on this pizza was the fact that they used real figs. Not fig preserve or fig jam but the real deal. Everything about this pizza was a home run. The crust, the toppings and even the arugula! I'm not a fan of arugula as I find it to be a little too pungent but I don't know what they did but this was so smooth and that pungent flavor was absent. Man just writing about that pizza and burger makes me excited to eat them again. Glad I have leftovers lol. Yeah def going back whenever I can!

Super great experience! The ambiance was just so perfect. There were pretty lights and at our table…read morethere were lights that could be adjusted. Our server was great. His name was Julian and he was very nice to us. He got our appetizers out in a short time and our pastas came out pretty quick too. I ordered the rigatoni alla vodka with chicken and it was really good! I love pastas that are a bit spicy so this was perfect. I would definitely recommend!

New favorite cocktail bar in the city!!…read more It's the perfect spot for a winter night-- the bar has moody lighting, an outdoor fireplace, and phenomenal cocktails. We tried a couple of drinks and our favorites were the espresso martini and the n/a garden smash. The espresso martini is a must order! It's clear and made with chocolate and a coffee foam. We got to speak with the beverage manager Alex and he told us all about how they make all of their syrups and juices in house, the drinks do not contain any major allergens, and many of them have no added sugar. You can tell that eveyone here is very proud of what they do!

So... I'd parked my scooter on my way to Elixir, and couldn't help but notice The Nook as I was…read morewalking towards the entrance. After my drink next door, I would be remiss if I didn't stop in. What I got was one of the more unique and interesting cocktails I'd tried! It was the Sick Day, and while I don't command the English language or my palate enough to do it justice, I can tell you that it was definitely a great sipper. The absinthe mist, despite being just that, has a way of doing that. I want to give some credit to the service. While the bar was shorthanded at the time, the barman on duty did his very best as a one-man show. Can't fault them too much, someone calls out sick last minute, and that's that. However, if there is something I can hold against them it's the heat! I'm not sure why, but the upon coming in, the place was HOT! After settling in, it became more bearable, but this is the kind of thing that sometimes persuades me to leave before I order anything.

This is a new place and we were amazed that we were able to get a reservation on the day after…read moreChristmas. There isn't a parking lot, but there seems to be a lot of street parking around and I found a spot mere steps from the restaurant. The place has a old world charm with lots of dark wood and warm feelings. When you enter, there's a room to the left hosting a nice sized bar area which made me immediately think of the bar area from Cheers. The place was full and they seemed like regulars from the neighborhood. I saw someone come in and thought I heard the place yell out, "NORM!", but that was in my head but made me smile nonetheless. In front was a host stand and a welcoming host and hostess who both welcomed us to Jackman & Co and took our name for our reservation and then immediately walked us to our table. It was a booth and I was a bit worried as I am a bigger individual and find booths kind of cramped, but didn't feel this way here. They had ample space for someone of my girth. It's a nice place with a warmth in decor of dark wood and white tablecloths. We started with the Potato Chips and Dip. It sounds very informal, but the chips are housemade (kind of like the homemade chips from Claim Company) and a tasty dip with sturgeon caviar. That turned an eyebrow or two from us, but we ordered it anyway and it was very good. A nice way to start the meal. As I look at their current menu offerings, I'm bummed as the item I ordered, a short rib pot roast on noodles isn't listed, but I assure you, it was there and it was perhaps one of the best dishes I've had anywhere of late. It was so flavorful and filling. It was a nice update of a traditional pot roast dish and I wish they had it on the menu so you could go and order it as it was so delightful. They also had a special drink which is also not on the menu, but it was equally good. We will definitely return and check out their outdoor seating when it is warmer out. Such a great gem in the suburbs!

It was surprisingly crowded on a weekday night so we sat at the bar. For my drink I got a spicy…read moremargarita and it was really good--very refreshing with a kick. For appetizers, we got the sesame rolls, and they were super soft and fresh. I also tried bacon wrapped dates for the first time (so I have nothing to compare these to), and they were alright but I thought the cheese was sort of overpowering. For food, I got the brick chicken and it came with a side of crispy cottage potatoes. The chicken with the garlic thyme jus went well together, and the potatoes were so crispy and delicious. The sticky date cake almost tasted like pumpkin bread because of the spices I was tasting. Overall the food was good, but I wasn't blown away by anything I ordered. Although our server was really friendly and helpful, I felt that the service was lacking and it took awhile to be checked on to order our drinks and food, but maybe they think it's best to just leave customers alone and allow them to take their time. He also gave us our check without asking if we wanted dessert or anything else. He apologized and made sure to ask if there was anything else we needed before we left which I appreciated.